New developments that are blending light industry with office space in Mount Pleasant are accelerating the transformation of a neighbourhood once known more for its elbow grease shops than the digital commerce emerging there today.

One of those developments is at 34 West 7th Ave., where Chard Development is redeveloping the former Far-Met Importers warehouse into a four-storey commercial strata development.

Set to break ground in May, the project will have 49,500 square feet of space. The new building will blend light industrial space on the bottom floor with more traditional office space above, said Byron Chard, the company’s chief financial and acquisitions officer.